TEMPLE, Texas — Two Temple families are mourning the deaths of 15-year-old Jaelanni Baity and 14-year-old Nyree Jones after the teens were hit and killed by a motorcycle early in the morning of Sunday, May 26.
Around 12:30 a.m., officers were made aware of an accident that took place at the intersection of West Adams Avenue and Westfield Boulevard. When police arrived, they learned that a motorcycle hit both teens.
The two teens were pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Coleman, who also ordered an autopsy. The mothers of the victims, Nicole Baity and Genae Jones, spoke to 6 News about what happened that night.
"We were all just hanging out," Baity explained.
"Later on the kids wanted to stay at my house," Jones added. "Later on that night, they decided they wanted to get some snacks. They didn't go out that late alone. They were with three other people who were over the age of 18."
Jaelanni's older brother, Javion Campbell, said all five of them began walking to the store. He had Jaelanni and Nyree walk in front of him so he could see them.
"I looked down for my flashlight but by the time I looked up, I tried to grab them but the motorcycle had already gone by," Campbell shared.
Baity was at Jones's apartment when the crash happened. The crash was only a few feet away from the apartment and both mothers said they could hear the group of friends scream after it happened
"I heard them screaming and it was an awful scream like something terrible happened," Baity explained." I listened for the sirens to stop and they were stopping out there. I tried to call my son and he didn't answer so I called Genae and she was like 'The girls got hit.'"
That's when Baity says she sprinted to where the crash happened.
"For me, I already knew she was gone because nobody was working on her body," Jones said.
When the officer finally told Baity that her daughter was gone, hope immediately followed.
"As soon as the officer told me, I looked down at my feet and saw Nyree's Cash App card near my feet," Jones said. "That's when I knew she was telling mommy, 'I'm ok.'"
Family and friends could attest that Jones and Baity had a very tightknit relationship
"They both had very strong personalities but were still very different," Jones added.
Baity also says the girls only met this year but practically became sisters.
The motorcyclist who struck and killed the two teens was 18 years old. According to Temple Police, he was taken to a local hospital where he remains in stable condition.
"I was initially mad at the situation," Jones said. "But once I found out it was another kid, my heart goes out to the family."
The victims were confirmed as North Belton Middle School students by a Belton ISD spokesperson. The school's principal has offered her condolences, and the district says they are making counselors available to their classmates.
Both families put together a memorial at the intersection where the incident happened and a balloon release is set up for Thursday, May 30. There is also a GoFundMe created to help with funeral costs.
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